Chain.



J. M. DODGE.

CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED une, 1911.

1,004,389. Pateted sep1.26,1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. DODGE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 LINK-BELT i COMPANY, OF. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

' CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedSept. 26,1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. DODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Chains, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvementsiii chains, especially drive chains having teeth which engage the teeth of sprocket wheels.I

' The object of my invention is to construct the chain so that a plain pivot pin can be used and also to provide cap plates which limit the longitudinal movement of the pins.

Inl the accompanying drawings z-Figure 1, is a side view of suilicient of a drive chain to illustrate my invention; Fig. 2, is a sectional plan view; Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5, are detached perspective views of one of the cap plates; Fig. 6, is a perspective view ofone of the link plates, and '"Fig. 7, is a perspective showing one of the cap plates perforated.

A and B are the links of the chain connected by 'pivot pins C. Each link is made of a series of plates a and b respectively, and, in the present instance, th'e lates of one link alternate with the plates o another link at the pivot, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. lThe pivot pins C are cylindrical and of an even diameter throughout; being free to turn in the pivot pin openings in both sets of links.

Each plate, in the present instance, as shown in Fig. 6, has extended bearings at the pivot pin openings and extended bearings on the teeth and in lorder to properly space the plates apart a flange lis also formed at a point about the center of the plate, and

the extended bearings at the teeth and the center flange of one plate contact with the same elements on an adjacent plate.

In order to.retain the pivot pins C within the pivot pin openings, I provide cap lates D. These cap plates are made, as c early .shown in Figs. l.tand 5, and have recessed portions d, d which extends over the pro- ]ecting ends of the pins C land are secured to the side plates a of the links'A by rivets e, in -the present instance. These 'rivets pass through openings aV in-the side link plate a.

In order to couple the several link plates together transversely, independently of the pivot pins, I provide a rivet I for each link A and this rivet passes through openings a2 in the several link plates and through openings d2 in the cap plate.

By the above construction the cap plates and the link plates are transversely coupled together, independently of the pivot pins,

'so as to allow the pivot pins freedom to rotate and also to allow for a limited longitudinal movement of the pivot pins; thus preventing grooving of the contacting parts.

The caps d are on a line with or project beyond the heads of the rivets I and thus take the side wear or rubbing of the chain upon the flange of the sprocket wheel when a flanged wheel is used.

In some instances the cap plates may be perforated at c', as in Fig. 7, to allow the escape of surplus lubricant or dirt from the pivot pin cavity.

I claim 1. The combination in a chain, of a series of links and pivot pins, each link being made of a number of link plates, said pivot pins being of an even diameter throughout, with cap plates secured to t-he outer link plates and extending over the openings for the pivot pins, the distance between the inner walls of the opposite cap plates being greater than the length of the pivot pin, so as to allow the pin a certain amount of longitudinal movement over the bearing face of the links.

2. The combination in a chain of a series of links, pivot pins` coupling said links, each of said links bein made of a series of link plates, with ca i p ates having recessed portions and -exten ing over the pivot pin o enings of the links, the recessed portions a ining with the pivot pin openings, with means of securing the cap plates rigidly to the outer link plates of each alternate link.

3. The combination in a chain, of a series of links, loose pivot pins coupling the links, each link being made up of a series of link plates, cap plates having recessed portions alining with the pivot pin openings, rivets securing the cap'plates to the outside link plates of each alternate link, and a through rivet coupling all the lates of said links, the pivot pins being ree to rotate in the pivot pin openings of the links.

' 4. The combination in a chain, of a series of links, loose pivot pins coupling the links, ties in line with the pivot pins and *perfoa cap secured to the outei` plate of each link, rated at the cavities. With through bolts coupling the several In testimony whereof, I have signed my plates of each link, and the caps being subname to this speoioation, in the presence of 5 stantially flush with the transverse astentWo subscribing Witnesses.

mg means.

5. The combination in a chain, of a series JAMES M' DODGE' of links, pivot pins coupling the links, cap Witnesses: plates secured to the outer plates of the WM. E. SHUPF, 1 0 alternate links, said cap plates having cavi- WM. A. BARR. 

